National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome is one of the largest museums in Italy (over 18’000 square meters, consumption equal to 1’000 toe/year) and houses the most complete collection dedicated to Italian and foreign art from the 19th century to today. Studio Santi is supporting the museum management in the implementation of an integrated approach relating to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, which began in 2017 on the International Year of Sustainable Tourism promoted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Considering the delicacy of the context and the characteristics of the structure, this innovative approach represents a prototype of an action protocol that can be replicated in similar realities of which Italy is very rich.
December 16, 2020
5th AIEE Energy Symposium – Current and future challenges to Energy Security
“Energy efficiency in public historical buildings: an integrated approach.
The case of the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome.”
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What we have done
The integrated approach originated with the drafting of the energy audit of the museum, conducted according to the UNI CEI EN 16247 standard, which allowed to identify the most convenient improvement interventions from a technical-economic point of view. The selection of interventions was further investigated through a technical and economic feasibility study, which allowed the Administration to find the necessary funds for the project.
Starting from the technical and economic feasibility project, Studio Santi developed the executive projects of the identified efficiency interventions: new central heating and cooling system and redevelopment of the aeraulic systems and skylights of the East Wing with photovoltaic system integrated in the glazing, compatible with the constraints that protect the historic building (total investment amount 4.6 M€, energy savings 50%, CO2 emissions reduction 60%).
The National Gallery is the first museum in Italy to have implemented, since July 2019 and with the support of Studio Santi, an ISO 50001 certified Energy Management System. It is the confirmation of the museum’s commitment to continuous improvement in the energy uses, aimed at a constant decrease in energy consumption and therefore their environmental impact.
Federico Santi has held the position of Energy Manager of the museum since 2018 and supports the museum, through the technical structure of Studio Santi, in the process of rationalizing energy consumption; this process allows to measure, over the years, a constant improvement in the energy performance of the site due – for now, pending the improvements currently underway – only to the improvement in behavioral habits and plant maintenance.
In relation to the decommissioning of the existing plant – fueled by methane gas – in favor of a heat pump plant, Studio Santi has successfully followed the procedure for obtaining the Conto Termico 2.0 incentive upon reservation (incentive amount: approximately 460 k€). This is a unique opportunity for Public Administration structures, as it allows them to obtain additional funds to be accumulated with the resources available to them: in the case of the Gallery, the incentive is able to cover approximately 40% of the cost of the intervention.
The in-depth knowledge of the museum developed over the years has allowed Studio Santi to support the Management in the verification of the design of the technical and economic feasibility project of the nZEB renovation of the Cosenza Pavilion (total investment amount 15 M€). This is the nearby museum building, built in the 70s, about 5,300 square meters, equipped with an auditorium, cafeteria, museum halls, etc… and it is going to be renovated as an nZEB building.
The experience gained in the field of fire prevention design, combined with the deep knowledge of the museum, has allowed Studio Santi to draw up the fire prevention project of the museum structure aimed at obtaining the CPI, intended for the Project Evaluation process (DM 151/2011), at the end of which the adaptation works of the structure to the fire regulations are scheduled.
The previous experience in the field of safety in the workplace and on construction sites has allowed Studio Santi to successfully support the Gallery during the reopening phases after the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 emergency, through the drafting of a protocol to allow safe reopening of the museum. Also thanks to this support activity, the Gallery was the first museum in Italy to reopen to the public on May 18, 2020, the first day established by the Government Decrees.
